The Austin Marathon is recognized as one of the “greenest” races in America, and in 2016 earned Gold level certification from the Council for Responsible Sport. Check out the story below, along with some other green sporting initiatives in Texas, courtesy of the GreenSportsBlog!

Texas is not the first state one thinks of in terms of Green-Sports leadership. But the Lone Star State is starting to move in that direction. In today’s TGIF News & Notes column, we take a look at last month’s Austin Marathon from a sustainability standpoint, courtesy of the Council for Responsible Sport. We also examine the greenness, or lack thereof, of the Men’s Final Four, hosted by Houston. Finally, we leave Texas to check in with our favorite team in the Green-Sports world, Forest Green Rovers of English soccer, and their recently-launched contest to design its new “eco-stadium.”

AUSTIN MARATHON EARNS GOLD CERTIFICATION FROM COUNCIL FOR RESPONSIBLE SPORT

The Eugene, OR-based Council for Responsible Sport has “supported, certified and celebrated responsibly produced sports events” since 2007, with marathons and half marathons forming the core of the group’s work.